Spring-wheel.



J. P. COCOWITCH.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

ZiZz/evz for' UNITED STATES PATENT oEEioE.

JOHN F. COCOWITCH, OF DUNNELLON, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES G. BASKIN, 0F DUNNELLON, FLORIDA.

SPRING-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au". 6, 1912.

Application filed September 21, 1910. Serial No, 583,054.

To all wwm 'it may concern.'

Be it known that l, JOHN F. Cooowrroil, a citizen of the United States. residing at Dunnellon. in the County otl Marion and State of Florida, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spring-'heels. of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has reference to improvements in spring wheels torvehicles, and it eomprehends generally the production of a vehicle wheel ot maximum strength and durability wherein the desired resilieney is obtained solely through the employment of specially arranged coil springs.

It further eomprehends the employment of a. particular form of rim section which is composed of a plurality ot eonneeted roneentrie ring. Certain ot these rings being so constructed as to constitute guides t'or the spokes and a support for one series ot springs.

l\ structural embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a faee view. and Fig. l an edge view of the improved wheel. each view being partly in set-tion and partly in elevation.

In said drawings, 1 indieates in a general manner the hub ot the wheel. and 2 the radial spokes. the latter having their inner ends securely fastened in soekets formed in the hub. lnterlnediate their ends. the spokes are secured to an annular band I provided with openings through whieh the spokes pass. the fasteningr devices being in the torni of bolts l or the like, as shown.

The rim seetion of the wheel is of sperial eonstrurtion. as originally stated. and ronsists ot' three eoneentrie rings 5. G and i'. connected by radial braees 8. 'this element is preferably eonstrurted ot' metal. and is in the forni otE a single easting. 'l`hc outermost -ring ronstitutes the rim proper. and is pro\ided with a continuons prripheral groove i wherein thil .si-lid tire lll iy` titled. the tiril itsel't being either ol' rnhher or metal. aecert'ling to the rharactei ot the vehicle to whirli the wheel is to be attached. 'lhe two inner rings and 7 artl formed. reecti\el with longitudinal serie of slots ll and l2. tht` slots ir --raid rings being disposed in radial alinement to pei mit` the extension ot the outer portions ot' the spokes therethrough. 'lhe terminals o' said spokesy project but a very slight distance through the slots 11 andiare wholly devoid-of connection with the rim proper 5. The innerniost ring 7 has a .substantially circular eross-seetional shape, as shown in Fig. (l, and is further provided with a series of pairs' of sockets 13 which are disposed interiorly thereof and open into the ends of the slots Vl2. These sockets constitute seats wherein the inner ends of pairs of er pansi` ble coil springs 14 are received. the outer endsl of the springs bearing against the spokes at diametrieally opposite points and serving to maintain said spokes normally ventral ot slots l2 and l1. Said slots are arranged midway of the spaces between adjacent braces. Between the innermost ring 7 and the band I5 there is interposed a series ot' supporting springs 15 which are likewise preferably of helieal construction and are expansible. The inner ends of this series of springs bear againstl the band, and the outer ends against a series ot plates 16 slidahle upon the spokes and held by the pressure ot said springs against the inner t'aee of ring 7. so as to close the adjacent ends of the slots 1Q. The arrangement of the several parts of the wheel is sueh, theretore. that tht` rim section. as a whole. is supported primarily by the band 3 and the adjaeent series ot springs l5. the latter at't'ording thc desired resilieney. as will be understood. The springs 14 bear against the `spokes and serve to normally prevent lateral movement ot' the same, said springs being held against areidental displaeement partly b v the plates 1G and partly by the outer walls of their sockets. the diameters of the soekets being somewhat greater than the widths ot the slots: the springs will `vield. however` when the wheel is under tension. and permit. inovelnent-` ot' the spokes toward one end or the other ofthe slots.

'l'lu` construction of the riin section as a single rasting obviously results in its possessing great strength and durability. and also in the reduction ot its 00st of manufacture to a considerable extent.

l elaini as my invention: Y

A\ spring wheel comprising, in combination. a rim seetion consisting of three rigidly eonneeted concentric rings, the inner ot' whieh has a substantially-eircular.cross- 4seetional shape and is provided with a set ries of pairs of interiorly-loeated sockets;.

said inner ring and the central ring being formed with radially-:dining longitudinal slots, said sockets opening into the opposite ends of the slots in said inner ring; a hub; a series of 'spokes radiat-in from said hub and secured tliereto at their inner ends, the outer end portions of said spokes projectin loosely tl'rough the slots in said inner an central rings, for endwise and lateral movement; .pairs of springs disposed in said sockets and, bearing at diametrically-opposite points against said spokes for yieldingly holding the same against lateral movement; an annular band secured to said spokes between said hub and said inner ring andarranged eoncentrically therewith; a series of supporting springs encircling said spokes and interposed between said band and said inner ring; and a tire fitted upon the outer ring of said rim section.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence 'of t'v'to subscribing witnesses.

JOHN F. CoooWIToH.

Witnesses:

CHARLES A. Rowe, JAMES G. BASKIN. 

